A Conversation with Keith Ellison and the Disability Community

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Matt Roznowski (matt@keithellison.org or 414-839-2560)

Rep. Keith Ellison & ADAPT MN Co-Hosting
Disability Community Conversation



Event will focus on empowerment, inclusion, and voter turnout among people with disabilities

What:

Rep. Keith Ellison and ADAPT Minnesota are bringing the disability community together for a conversation about issues that have a big impact on people with disabilities, such as the voter restriction amendment, PCA funding, and the Community Choice Act.

The conversation will also focus on voting among people with disabilities will empower the community and lead to greater inclusion.

ADAPT MN will be giving Rep. Ellison the 2nd Annual Free Our People Award for his commitment to reaching out and working with people with disabilities to solve problems.

ADAPT Minnesota is a chapter of the national ADAPT. ADAPT is a grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in non-violent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom.

Who:

Congressman Keith Ellison (MN-05)

Chris Bell, Attorney [Panelist]

Debra Burke, Executive Director and Founder, Break Thru Home Care [Panelist]

John Tschida, Vice President, Public Affairs and Research, Courage Center [Panelist]

ADAPT MINNESOTA LEADERSHIP TEAM:
Galen Smith
Jay Wilson
Jim Carlisle
Claudia Carlisle
Becky Francin
Darrell Paulsen
Nichole Villavicencio


When:

Tuesday, October 23 from 6:00 – 7:30pm

Where:

Courage Center Atrium
3915 Golden Valley Road
Golden Valley, MN 55422

--
Matt Roznowski
Communications Director
Re-Elect Keith Ellison for U.S. Congress
Office: (612) 522-4416
matt@keithellison.org

Join Us {ADAPT MN} for a Disability Community Conversation!!

Join Keith Ellison and ADAPT for a Disability Community Conversation

Tuesday, October 23
6:00 - 7:30pm
Courage Center
3915 Golden Valley Road
Golden Valley, MN 55422


Our panel of experts will talk about issues that have a big impact on the disability community, such as the voter restriction amendment, PCA funding, and the Community Choice Act.

ACTION ALERT: Demand Accessible Transportation at ALL Minnesota State Fair Park-and-Rides!

Sign our petition telling the Minnesota State Fair: Provide accessible transportation at ALL State Fair park-and-rides!

For the 2011 Minnesota State Fair, 27 out of 35 park-and-ride options (80%) have vehicles that are not wheelchair-accessible. Although, 7 park-and-ride options (20%) do use accessible vehicles, only 1 park-and-ride guarantees consistent availability of wheelchair-accessible vehicles.  The remaining 6 park-and-ride locations indicate wheelchair-accessible vehicles will be used when they are available, but do not tell us when they will be available, thereby making it nearly impossible to plan our trips.  Most of these accessible locations are relatively close to the fairgrounds; they are not equally distributed geographically. Therefore, individuals and families experiencing disability, chronic illness, or aging -- especially those living further away from the fairgrounds -- do not have an equal opportunity for equal participation in the Minnesota State Fair park-and-ride benefit. We believe this violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, which protects the civil rights of Americans experiencing disability.

ADAPT Minnesota, the sponsor of this petition, is a chapter of the national ADAPT. ADAPT is a grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in non-violent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom.  Originally, ADAPT was an acronym that stood for Americans Disabled for Accessible Public Transit.  In the early-80s, ADAPT's initial issue was to get wheelchair accessible lifts on buses.  Since then, the group has expanded to address all disability-related rights.

Minnesota Government Shutdown Activities Thursday

There are several government shutdown events going on from 10 a.m. until midnight Thursday that ADAPT members (especially as informed Minnesota citizens) may wish to participate in as a show of solidarity and active citizen participation even though the events are not directly organized or sponsored by ADAPT...

1.      Invest in Minnesota Action at 10 a.m. [ More Information on the Web ] [ More Information on Facebook ]

2.      Welfare Rights Committee Action at Noon [ More Information on Facebook ]

3.      USuncutMN FIGHT BACK!  Minnesota!  Shutdown Eve Parade and Rally at 1:30 p.m. [ More Information on the Web ] [ More Information on Facebook ]

4.      MAPE Pre-Vigil Cookout at 6:30 p.m. [ More Information on the Web ]

5.      AFSCME / MAPE Shutdown Eve Vigil at 9:00 p.m. [ Flyer from AFSCME ] [ More Information from MAPE ]

NATIONAL ADAPT: Say "NO" to Massive Medicaid Cuts, Block-Granting

URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Contact Representative Bachmann, Representative Ryan, and Speaker Boehner to say "NO" to massive Medicaid cuts and block-granting. 

ACTION OPTIONS:

·         Most Effective Yet More Time-Consuming: Call the following US Congressional Officials:

o   Representative Bachmann -- 202-225-2331 / 651-731-5400

o   Representative Ryan -- 202-225-3031

o   Speaker Boehner -- 202-225-6205

o   Senator Hatch -- 202-224-5251

o   Senator Baucus -- 202-224-2651

o   Your US Representatives and Senators

·         Less Effective Yet Less Time-Consuming:

o   Generic Fax, Letter, or E-mail Generator to US Representatives

o   Generic Fax, Letter, or E-mail Generator to US Senators

MORE INFORMATION:

·         US Representatives Action

·         US Senators Action

NATIONAL ADAPT: Urge Speaker Boehner to Meet with ADAPT

URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Contact Speaker Boehner to urge him to meet with ADAPT.

ACTION OPTIONS:

·         Most Effective Yet More Time-Consuming: Telephone Speaker Boehner at both his Troy, Ohio and Washington, D.C. offices [Talking Points]

o   Troy, Ohio Office:  937-339-1524

o   Washington, D.C. Office:  202-225-6205

·         Less Effective Yet Less Time-Consuming: Generic Letter or E-mail Generator

MORE INFORMATION